Internet of Things (IoT) revolution is to continue expanding and cybersecurity will keep on becoming a top concern. The 2024 PSA Certified Security Report revealed that 80% of technology decision-makers have placed compliance with security regulations at the top of their agenda. Global regulations tightening and securing IoT devices are matters of compliance and simultaneously to ensure the safety as well as trust of users. Here are five key steps to safeguard IoT products:
Threat Modeling and Security Analysis (TMSA)
A Threat Modeling and Security Analysis (TMSA) should be the first step before building an IoT device. It is like a blueprint to identify vulnerabilities and potential risks associated with the products. Hence, it is important to preemptively identify weak points in the IoT system. The proactive approach allows to design product with security measures in place from the beginning.
Secure Microcontroller
Selection of a secure microcontroller is foundational to the security of a device. Many microcontrollers lack essential security features such as hardware-based Roots of Trust or cryptographic accelerators. Choosing the right microcontroller is important as it determines how the product is to handle data encryption, memory protection and secure execution environments.
Secure Communication Protocols
IoT devices constantly exchange data and making secure communication protocols is important. Transport Layer Security (TLS), Datagram TLS (DTLS) or other such protocols encrypt data in transit and ensures it remains confidential as well as tamper-free. Mutual authentication further strengthens the communication and prevents attacks like man-in-the-middle interference.
Regular Updates and Patch Firmware
IoT devices must evolve to address emerging threats. Regular firmware updates are crucial for patching vulnerabilities as they are discovered. Over-the-air (OTA) updates allow for seamless and secure firmware delivery to ensure that only authenticated as well as trusted updates are applied to the device.
Certify Device
Certifications like PSA Certified or FIPS 140-2 validate that the product meets stringent security standards. It boosts consumer trust and also ensures compliance with global regulations. Certification is becoming increasingly critical as governments tighten security requirements for IoT devices.
